Hayabusa2 just tried to collect asteroid dust for the first time

The Japanese spacecraft will eventually return to Earth, hopefully hauling a sample of Ryugu

LOOK OUT BELOW The shadow of the Hayabusa2 spacecraft (small black dot to the left) is visible on the surface of asteroid Ryugu in this image, taken shortly before the spacecraft touched down on Ryugu’s surface for the first time.

The Hayabusa2 spacecraft has quickly tapped the surface of asteroid Ryugu, making the first of three planned attempts to grab a pinch of dust. Analysis of the sample could shed light on the origins of planets or even on the possibility of life elsewhere in the solar system.

But scientists won’t know for sure how much dust Hayabusa2 succeeded in grabbing until the craft returns to Earth in 2020.

When Hayabusa2 arrived at the 1,000-meter-wide Ryugu in June, scientists were surprised to find the diamond-shaped asteroid’s surface covered with boulders (SN Online: 6/27/18). That rough terrain made finding a good landing spot difficult.

In December, the team performed experiments on Earth to make sure their sample collection technique would work on such a rocky surface. The tests suggested that the strategy, firing a tantalum bullet into the surface to kick up asteroid dust and then gathering that dust in a long flared horn, should work on Ryugu.

Scientists in the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's control room in Sagamihara received data from Hayabusa2 just before 6 p.m. EST on February 21 (8 a.m. February 22 in Japan), confirming that the craft had safely touched down on Ryugu.

Shortly after, the team confirmed the spacecraft had successfully fired the bullet, which means it probably also collected a sample. The craft then rose from the surface and retreated to a safe distance from Ryugu.

“I just want to jump,” project manager Junichiro Kawaguchi said in an interview from the control room. “This was the most crucial point, whether you can confirm that the projectile has fired.”

Hayabusa2 has two more bullets on board for two more collection attempts later this year. For one sample, the team will use a larger projectile to blast a crater into the asteroid and get material from below the surface.